KARACHI: A suicide bomber detonated his suicide jacket in Malir's Rifa-i-Aam Society on Sunday during a raid conducted by police and other law enforcement agencies in the area.

Two policemen were injured during the raid. The injured policemen were admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

A team comprising police and other law enforcement agencies headed by Senior Superintendent Police Malir Rao Anwar was conducting a raid in Kehkashan Society where the suspect Farhan alias 'Pehlwan' was believed to be in hiding.

The team exchanged fire with the suspect who fired back, shooting one policeman in the stomach and another in the leg. He then hurled two hand grenades, one of which exploded, before detonating his suicide jacket.

Farhan is suspected of targeted killing of police officers and Rangers personnel, and affiliation with Al Qaeda. The weapon used by the suspect was sent to a forensics lab for further investigation.

Earlier this month, Karachi Police AIG Mushtaq Maher claimed that 3,000 hardcore criminals had been arrested, while 246 terrorists, 38 kidnappers and ten extortionists had been killed so far in police encounters.

Rangers spokesman Colonel Amjad maintained that 913 terrorists including 550 target killers were nabbed while 15,400 illegal weapons were recovered from the custody of criminals operating within the city.

The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks".

Also read: Karachi operation: 386 ‘criminals’ eliminated this year